German data point to weak end to 2012

Disappointing German industrial output and orders data rekindled fears Wednesday that Europe's powerhouse economy may have stalled at the end of last year.

Industrial production rose by just 0.2% in November, following a fall of 2% the previous month, as a stronger performance in capital goods and construction outweighed declines in energy and consumer goods.

Economists were expecting an increase of around 1%.

Europe's biggest economy has managed to avoid the recession gripping much of the rest of the region, but declining activity in its eurozone partners in recent months has depressed exports. They fell 3.4% in November.